Reunión clínica inter-hospitales: hipertensión arterial y microangiopatía trombótica en lupus eritematoso sistémico / Inter-hospital clinical meeting: hypertension and thrombotic microangiopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus

Se presenta una paciente portadora de lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES), descompensado por múltiples factores, que desarrolló una nefropatía lúpica e hipertensión arterial severa de difícil manejo, asociadas a disfunción orgánica múltiple y microangiopatía trombótica, tratadas con plasmaféresis e inmunosupresión. Se exponen las causas y mecanismos fisiopatológicos más importantes de la hipertensión arterial (HTA) severa en pacientes con LES. Enseguida se analizará específicamente el púrpura trombocitopénico trombótico como causa y/o efecto de HTA en LES.

We present a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), outweighed by multiple factors, who developed lupus nephritis and severe hypertension difficult to handle, associated with organ dysfunction and thrombotic microangiopathy treated with plasmapheresis and immunosuppression. This document explains the causes and pathophysiological mechanisms leading to hypertension (HT) in patients with severe SLE. Then specifically analyzed as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura cause and / or effect of hypertension in SLE.

Valores normales de captación de 131Yodo de 2 y 24 horas / Normal 131Iodine uptake values at 2 ano 24 hours

Background: Radiolabeled iodine uptake is a useful tool in the study of thyroid diseases. Aim: To obtain normal values for 131 Iodine thyroid uptake in healthy volunteers. Material and methods: A total of 105 subjects were included (52 males and 53 females), with a mean age of 45 years (range: 20 to 68, evenly distributed in decades). A questionnaire was applied and a clinical examination was performed to rule out endocrine diseases. Serum TSH and anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies were also measured. The oral 131I dose was 5-10 fiCi, and a Thyrad equipment was used for measurements at 2 and 24 h. Results: Mean global iodine uptake was 5.5 percent±1.8 percent (range: 2.3-12.0) at 2 h and 16.2±4.8 percent (range: 6.5-30.1) at 24 h. The values at 2 h among women and men were 6.0±1.8 and 4.9±1.6 percent, respectively, (p <0.02). At 24 h, the figures were 17.3±4.5 and 15.0±4.9 percent, respectively (p =0.01). Compared to their younger counterparts, radioactive iodine uptake was lower among volunteers older than 40 years, at 2 h (5.0±1.7 and 6.0±1.8, respectively, p <0.02) and at 24 h (14.9±4.4 and 17.6±4.9 percent, respectively, p <0.01). Conclusions: Normal thyroid uptake values in adults are influenced bygender and age. Normal thyroid iodine uptake values are slightly higher in females. Iodine thyroid uptake values decrease slightly in subjects aged more than 40years.

Autoevaluación de fortalezas, debilidades y confianza de los médicos de atención primaria en el abordaje de enfermedades reumatológicas / Self assessment of strengths, weaknesses and self confidence¿ of primary care physicians taking care of rheumatic diseases

Background: Rheumatologic diseases are common and frequently managed by primary care physicians. Aim: To assess strengths, weaknesses and self confidence of primary care physicians in the management of rheumatic diseases. Material and methods: A self assessment and anonymous questionnaire was mailed to primary care physicians of two Chilean regions. Using a 10 points Likert scale, they were asked about personal interest, undergraduate training, continuous medical education, availability of medical literature, complementary laboratory tests and consultation with a rheumatologist. Medical skills, knowledge, therapeutic approach and performance of rheumatologic procedures were evaluated under the item confidence. Results: Three hundred forty seven out of 763 physicians (45%) answered the questionnaire. Their age range extended from 25 to 75 years, 59% were male, 58% were Chilean and 74% worked in the Metropolitan region. The worst evaluated parameters were availability of literature with a score of 2.2±2, access to consultation with a rheumatologist (3.8±2.2) and to continuous medical education (4.3±2.7). Physicians had a better confidence in their knowledge (6.7±1.5) and in their therapeutic approach (6.1±1.5). The worst confidence score was for shoulder injection therapy (3.4±2.6). Continuous medical education correlated with knowledge but not with clinical skills. Conclusions: Primary care physicians perform a bad assessment of their skills in rheumatology. They have a low level of confidence in their clinical skills to perform rheumatologic procedures. Continuous medical education improves confidence in knowledge but not in skills.

Crisis de esclerodermia renal: rol de la vasculopatía esclerodérmica en la inducción de fibrosis cutáneo-visceral en dos casos / Renal scleroderma crisis: role of sclerodermic vasculopathy in the induction of cutaneous and visceral fibrosis: report of 2 cases

Although fibrosis and vasculopathy coexist in most patients with progressive systemic sclerosis, it is not clear if these events are the result of an unique etiologic factor or if one is consequence of the other. We report two cases of progressive systemic sclerosis that evolved to a renal scleroderma crisis. A 36 years old female presented with a Sjögren syndrome and painful subcutaneous nodules whose biopsy showed perivascular lymphocytic infiltration, perivascular thickening and normal skin. The ESR was 100 mm/h. She developed an hypertensive crisis and progressive renal failure, followed by a rapidly evolving progressive systemic sclerosis. The patient died in the course of this crisis. A 32 years old female with a progressive systemic sclerosis refractory to D-penicillamine treatment, receiving cyclosporin, presented a renal scleroderma crisis, that was successfully treated, with complete recovery of renal function. We highlight the different evolution of these cases, probably due to an early diagnosis and a better experience in the management of this condition

Tratamiento con dosis bajas de ciclosporina A en pacientes con enfermedad ocular inflamatoria de etiología no infecciosa / Treatment of non infectious ocular inflammatory disease with low doses of cyclosporin A

Background: Cyclosporin A has an adequate immunosuppressive capacity and can be useful in the treatment of non infectious ocular inflammatory diseases. Aim: To describe the clinical effect of cyclosporin A treatment in low doses, along with corticosteroids, in the treatment of refractory ocular inflammatory diseases. Patients and methods: Twenty patients (13 female), aged 17 to 74 years old with severe and refractory ocular inflammatory diseases were studied. All except one, received variable doses of prednisone (10 to 60 mg/kg/day) and all received cyclosporin in doses that started in 2.5 mg/day and were increased to 5 mg/kg/day, according to clinical response. Patients were followed from 8 to 24 months, with monthly assessments of ocular inflammation (using a four point score), visual acuity and adverse effects of treatment. Results: A two points or more reduction in the ocular inflammation score was observed in 52 percent of patients. Visual acuity improved in 10 subjects, stabilized in 8 and worsened in 2. Prednisone doses were reduced in most patients. Observed adverse effects were hypertension in 2 patients, creatinine elevation in 2, gastrointestinal disturbances in 3 and hypertrichosis in 12. A reduction of cyclosporin dose was required in these cases, but it was discontinued only in one patient with a vascular purpura. Conclusions: Low cyclosporin doses, associated to prednisone, are useful to reduce inflammation and improve visual acuity in patients with non infectious ocular inflammatory diseases, refractory to other treatment methods

Compromiso pulmonar intersticial en artritis reumatoide: análisis por lavado bronco-alveolar / Interstitial pulmonary involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: analysis by bronchoalveolar lavage

We analyzed the reuslts of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in 14 patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Teh patients had total cell counts above 10 x 10***6/100 ml and or more than 10½ lymphocytes in differential counts. 40% of patients with normal clincial findings on pulmonary examination and normal A-a 02 gradients had abnormal BAL findings. These findings support the theory that pulmonary fibrosis in patients with RA may start with alveolitis, probably a lymphocytic in 60% of cases. BAL may help early diagnosis and treatment monitoring